4. Courtney Lee moves before the trade deadline
The Eastern Conference had LeBron James’ teams as its representative in the NBA Finals in 2007 and from 2011-18. Now with his arrival to the Los Angeles Lakers, that opens a spot in the playoff picture.
Will this mean anything for the New York Knicks? If so, they may not become buyers but more confident in their squad’s future. If not, a breakdown of the roster is possible, at least for the veterans.
Courtney Lee’s name recently arose in rumors, as Marc Berman of The New York Post reported the veteran guard’s desire to join a contender via trade. This was denied at media day, but what if the Knicks choose to move him anyway?
With 2019 free agency in focus, whenever the chance to create cap space arrives, it makes sense for the Knicks to explore their avenues. If they sit out of the playoff race around the trade deadline, it could lead to calls on Lee, who can play the two or three positions, provide outside shooting and a veteran presence for interested contenders.
The removal of Lee’s salary frees as much as $12.75 million from the 2019 salary cap. It might take a hurdle to do this, with a guaranteed contract for 2019-20, but if a playoff team showcases enough interest, will that matter?